Saturday, May 17, 2008

SPEED Promises "RaceDay" Surprise

Things are always just a little bit different on All-Star weekend and this one has proven to be no exception. Saturday will feature another roll-out of NASCAR TV programming in a "block" by SPEED almost all day long.

This effort is designed to lead-up to a three hour edition of the popular RaceDay program and then transition to the All-Star festivities themselves. Since SPEED does not have any Sprint Cup Series points races, this is going to be as close as the network comes to the big time on the track this season.

Off the oval, SPEED has continued to partner with the NASCAR Media Group and dominate the weekend TV programming where racing is concerned. It will be NASCAR Live at Noon Eastern Time that kicks-off the original programming on Saturday. John Roberts will be on-hand to host with Hermie Sadler and Randy Pemberton reporting.

That show will transition into a re-air of the Pit Crew Challenge originally seen on Thursday night. SPEED had some glitches originally, but this re-air should be all cleaned-up if fans want to record a good version of this special to keep.

Speaking of recording, Tradin' Paint at 2:30PM will feature a re-match of one of the oddest couples ever seen on TV. John Roberts will be trying to keep the peace between Kyle Petty and veteran writer Bob Pockrass of NASCAR Scene and scenedaily.com. Put this one on the DVR or the VCR.

These two have combined for some of the most interesting and hilarious editions of this show since the concept first started some years ago. Oil-and-water does not do the dynamic of these two justice. Pockrass will not back down from his views on the sport, which in the past have resulted in Petty blowing his stack in spectacular fashion. It should be interesting to see which topics the Producer picks to discuss.

Larry McReynolds has quietly turned NASCAR Performance into a dynamo of a show. Next up at 3PM, this program features Chad Knaus and Bootie Barker delving into all kinds of racing subjects and offering all types of topical discussions from a crew chief's perspective. Even for a mechanical novice like myself, this program has moved to the "must see" list.

NASCAR In A Hurry is an interesting little TV series hosted by Adam Alexander. The thirty minute show which airs at 3:30PM uses footage of SPEED programs both on and off the track to offer a short "wrap-up" of things at Charlotte so far. The trick is, they only use footage from the previous 48 hours. They pack all the "happenings" together and show them...in a hurry.

The "franchise" steps-out of the shadows next as RaceDay offers a "three hour tour" of all things All-Star that leads directly into the event. John Roberts hosts, with Jimmy Spencer and Kenny Wallace alongside. Wendy Venturini provides the news and several features. Hermie Sadler offers the track description and is also a reporter on the show. Rutledge Wood continues as the "comic relief."

This program is said to contain a big surprise guest this week. SPEED is not letting anything slip, but since the show is live there might be some fun moments where this "guest" is concerned. As viewers might expect, Wendy Venturini will finally sit-down with Dale Jarrett and get his take on this final night at-speed in a sport that has dominated his life.

Live guests include Jimmie Johnson, Tony Stewart and Kurt Busch. This week, the Speedway has added a new wrinkle for All-Star day. The Pennzoil Platinum Victory Challenge is the official name for the new burnout contest.

While many fans have seen this type of event at motorcycle rallies and even local short tracks, this one is going to be new. It will be the "big boys" from NASCAR on Fox that will step-in and handle the commentary for this special event. Mike Joy, Larry McReynolds and Darrell Waltrip will do their best to see through the smoke and offer their expert analysis.

RaceDay will also dip into the NASCAR Media Group archives, and offer some brief flashbacks on the past All-Star races that have certainly featured some memorable moments. It should be fun to hear the comments from Spencer and Wallace on these sometimes controversial moments in time.

RaceDay will transition directly into the All-Star race programming at 7PM. The NASCAR on Fox crew will again call the action. This post will serve to host your comments during the pre-race programming, and a new post will be added at 6PM for the All-Star race.

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so, i'm looking at the all star logo and wondering: what is the fascination in sports with using roman numerals for their "premier" events? is there a belief that it lends gravitas to the event? does it make the "special" event even more special? and how many people can even read roman numerals any more? i mean, there are kids who are only comfortable with a digital watch! what happens when the event gets up into the 50 and 60 year range? how many of us will still be able to read THOSE roman numerals?yet another thing that makes me go "hmmmm."

I cannot understand why SPEED doesnt stand up and produce the race themselves, with their trucks group of announcers?The Fox dolts will just make this "one more Fox race" instead of allowing it to be differetiated from all of the other over-hyped excuses they pass off as race coverage. What a sham. Fox sports arrogance and entitlement even extends within the companyMaybe someday David Hill will realize DW's last name is Waltrip and not Wallace

Sorry, but since it was shown today I have a quick thought on the pit crew challenge....I thought the crowd, announcer, band and dancers were all great. It made you feel like you were at a LIVE event. Do the networks produce some events to "feel" more as being at a live event vs watching a "canned" live event on your couch.

Come on JD, get a grip. You gotta admit it was funny and out of place for them. I thought it was ok. But not on a weekly basis. Yes, my jaw fell also. But it was so unexpected that it caught me off guard and got a laugh of it.

JD, it could get worse, KB still has to go out. And since JJ broke all the rules and got a 20 second penalty. What do we have to lose as long as it is a good show win or lose. Even though that was not the intent of the event. You are right.

I thought the opening of RaceDay was hysterical. I mean, buttoned up John Roberts with a gold grill and dancin to rap music? Go against type just a little bit? I didn't get the whole Hello Kitty coloring book by Kenny, but it was funny. Spenser in drag? I'm not so sure about that one, but it had me laughing. I did wonder why Wendy wasn't really included in the caricatures.

Loved the Dale Jarrett interview. Wendy has a knack for doing great stuff like that.

JD, could you possibly find something out for us? When the Trackside guys have on a driver as a guest, they are asked to autograph something. What do they do with those items? I don't think I've ever heard any of them comment on what's done. I've seen them sign collector cars, helmets and other things. I'm wondering if they auction them off for charity, or whatever.

Sophia, I totally agree with you about Nascar Performance. I Tivo the show and I totally tuned it out when they did nothing but interview Shrubbie's crew chief. What are they doing, planning on getting rid of Bootie or Chad and auditioning a new guy? I just couldn't see the reason for changing the format for what is a successful show.

Please dont post the winners of the race except in that race's specific blogs. I always TiVo the races and read The Daly Planet for each show while I'm catching up with the TV. Imagine my disappointment when I'm reading and watching Raceday and someone spoils the outcome of the All-Star race before I even start watching it!! I know its my fault for being behind, but still...

Larry Mac DID explain the change on Nascar Performance--he said that they rarely have a chance to interview a 'hot' team's crew chief live on the show, so they took advantage of the opportunity. Personally, I loathe Kyle Busch, but I don't hold that against Steve Addington and I found what he had to say pretty interesting. I didn't know much about his history and they did talk about technical elements of the racing. It's one show, geez!

I missed the opening of Raceday (but I can assure you I'd have recognized the music...) The Ric Flair thing was funny if only for the shock on Kenny's face, but I wouldn't have had a clue who he was. TP was funny as well, with them getting into it about possible ideas for the All Star race (ironically, a caller on Wind Tunnel had the same thought about voting someone OFF.) Speaking of which, WT was pretty good too.